Draft Wind Techno-economic Exclusions for 2026-2027 IRP

The wind techno-economic exclusion layer has been updated for proposed use in the current 2026-2027 IRP cycle. The previous version was developed in 2023. Two changes are reflected in this current draft update: Low wind resource quality is defined by wind speeds less than 6.5 m/s according to Global Wind Atlas 100-meter hub height data. This screen replaces the previous wind quality screen of capacity factor greater than 20% based on work by Lopez et al. (2012).1 Existing project footprints are no longer reflected in this layer, but are instead incorporated into the base exclusions.  More information is found in the CEC and CPUC presentations from the August 19 webinar, as well as the 2023 Land Use Screens Staff Report in the CEC Energy Planning Library.  1. Lopez, A. et. al. “U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials: A GIS-Based Analysis,” 2012. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51946.pdf